Means used in conjunction with a motion picture camera for the photographic recording of a date on a film



Sept. 2, 1952 D. KRAMER 2,608,919

MEANS USED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A MOTION PICTURE CAMERA FOR THE PHOTOGRAPHIC RECORDING OF A DATE ON A FILM Filed Nov. 25. 1949 Patented Sept. 2, 1952 MEANS lUSED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A MO- TION PICTURE CAMERA FOR THE PHOTO- GRAPHIC FILM RECORDING OF ADATE ON y Daniel Kramer, Willowick, Ohio 1` Application November 25, 1949, Serial No. 129,464

This invention relates to means used in conjunction with a motionV picture camera and the like, for the photographic recording on the lm of the date when the picture was taken.

The means carrying -the date indicia.` and the focusing means is removably mounted as a unit in the tube of the motion picture camera inwhich the'lens or combination of lenses is mounted.

The image of thev date is exposed and recorded on thefilm.

My invention is herein illustrated and will be describedin connection with the recording of a date on the iilm. In recording the date on the iilm, it is essential that a proper focusing means be provided so that when the indicia is exposed to the light a proper photographic picture will result. i'

For this purpose, the invention provides a means through which the light rays pass, and is provided with means for-adjusting the aforesaid means with respect to the focusing means in the camera, when mounted in the camera tube of the picture taking camera.

The device carrying the indicia and focusing means is removably mounted as a unit in the camera tube. The camera tube isusually supplied with a screw-thread whichwis utilized in removably mounting the device therein.

Details of construction and arrangement ofthe parts will be apparent asthe description proceeds, reference` now being V had to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, and wherein like reference numerals indicate like parts.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of the device, the front plate removed therefrom to show the interior of the casing.

Figure 2 is a iront elevational view of the device, illustrating the apertures in the front section through which the light rays may pass to the indicia carried by the disks and lm.

Figure 3 is a side view of the device mounted in the tube of a picture taking camera. The tube is shown fragmentary, and the optical system is shown in the tube.

Figure 4 is a sectional view illustrating the optical system in the casing, the pressure fingers, a disk carrying indicia, the disk mounted on the headed bolt, and the helical spring on the bolt.

Figure 5 is a sectional view showing the pressure fingers for the film carrying the gures l, 2, 3 etc.

The reference character I refers to the casing generally which comprises three sections. The

front or face section 2 fits with a 'snug t over the intermediate section 3 and the rear'isection 4 in which the optical system 5 is mounted, telescopes into the intermediate section, see sectional view Figure 4. f

The disk 6 bearing the abbreviation of the' respective months, January, February, March; etc: is provided with a squarecentral aperture 1 and is mounted on the bolt 8 havinga square portion 9, an expanded head I0, a cylindrical portion Il that passes through a smooth bore I2. in thev face of the casing and is rotatably mounted thereinr by means of a knoby I3 fast on the bolt. Ahelical spring I4 is mounted on the bolt and is" positioned between the `back surface of the disk'an the expanded head on the bolt. f l.

The disk I5 carrying the .abbreviationofrthe respective years, 50, 51, 52,153 etc. is identical in construction and operation with that of the disk 6 save the indicia, and it is thought that the description and operation of the'disk 6 will sufiice for both. y f 5,

In the disk there is provided a plurality of indentations IE adaptedto seat the ball I1 which is held captive in the through hole I8 in the front section .by a flat spring I8 connected tothe outer face thereof, see position of springs in Figure 2.

When the disk is turned manually to bring the selected indicia into registry with the aperture 20 in the front plate, the disk -is forcedback on the bolt by the cooperation of the nat springl and the ball in freeing the ball out ofthe indentation. When the indicia isproperly aligned intheaperture, the ball engages in an indentation and locks the disk in position through the cooperation of the flat spring. The helical spring on the bolt forces the disk forward on the bolt to maintain the lock and also to assist in making the casing light-tight.

In the casing there is provided two longitudinal extending spindles 2l and 22, each supplied on its upper end with a knob fast thereon as at 23 and 24 to turn same. On each spindle there is iixedly mounted a spool member as at 25 and 2l on which the light passing material 21 bearing the numbers 1 to 3l is rollable. These spindles may be turned clockwise or counterclockwise to bring the selected number into registry with the opening 28 in the face plate of the casing.

The aperture 29 in the front plate is provided to permit the reading of the abbreviated year on or in the disk I5 when the same is brought into registry therewith.

The pressure fingers 30 and 3| are provided to hold the light transmitting medium 21 in slight frictional contact with the inner surface of the face plate of the section 2. It will be noted that the light transmitting medium 21 is positioned between the disk 6 and the disk l5 and extends transversely across the casing and in the interior thereof and is manually wound on and off the spools to bring ythe selected dateinto'registry with the aperture 28 in the face plate. The fingers also assist to make the casing light-tight.

The interior of the casing is given a coat of light absorbing medium such as a dull black paint or a lacquer.

The end portion of the section 4 of the casing is provided with a screw-thread 32 adapted to be screwed into threaded tube 33 of the picturel taking camera. The picture taking camera tube is shown fragmentarily, and the camera, lens is illustrated therein as at 34, see Figure 3.

The assembled sections 2 and 3 may be adjusted longitudinally and rotatively on the section l by releasing the thumb screw 35, and after adjustment tightening the same, for the purpose of focusing. Y

It is believed that operation of the device will be clear from the foregoing description given in connection with the respective parts, and` that the construction shown provides a compact and economical device for the purpose of accomplishing the objects sought.

1 am aware that my invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment tobe considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: i

1. A device of the class described,comprising`, in combination a casing comprising a, plurality of sections, one of the sections having a plurality of light admitting apertures therein, "theV aforementionedsection snugly tting over an intermediate section and forming with the nrst mentioned section alight-tight compartment, a rear section telescoped into the intermediate'seotion, a lens system incorporated in the rear section, manually rotatable disk members having transparent and opaque portions which dene indicia in the compartment, a manually transversely movable member of narrow strip configuration having transparent and opaque portions which de ne indicia positioned between the disk mem- 4 bers in the compartment, a lbolt for each disk member formed with a square portion, a cylindrical portion extending from the square portion and forming a shoulder therewith, a head on the square portion, a disk having a square hole therein slidably mounted on the square portion, a helical -spring interposed 'between the head on the bolt 'and the backsurface of the disk, the cylindrical portion of the bolt journalled in the casing, a knob fast on the cylindrical portion adapted vto turn the bolt with the disk thereon,

Vthe helical spring on the bolt adapted to normallyV urge the disk into. slight frictional contact with the inner vsurface of the casing and retain it in selected. position.

2. A device of the class described comprising, a casing havinga plurality of light admitting apertures therein, in the interior of the casing, rotatably mounted disks having transparent and opaque portions which dene indicia, a transversely movable narrowv strip member having transparent and opaque portions which define indicia, means `for moving the aforesaid narrow strip back and forth to position the indicia thereon to 'register with a light admitting aperture in the casing, said means comprising spaced spindles and spools, the narrow strip member wound on the spools, a knob to separately rotate each disk to position the indicia carried thereby to register with respective light admitting apertures in the casing, a lens mounted inthe vcasing adapted to receive light rays andimages of the indicia and focus same upon the focusing lens system in the picture taking camera to photograph'the indicia on the sensitizedflm therein and pressure ngers in the interior'of the casing to hold the narrow strip member having transparent and opaque portions which define indicia in slight frictional contact with the inner surfacev of the casing thereby assisting to make the 'casing light-tight. y DANIEL KRAMER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references arev of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Anthony Dec. 24, 1940; 

